Well Pumps
Well Pump Not Working? Here's What to Check First
Losing water pressure on a private well is disruptive. Before calling a technician, check these 5 diagnostic items yourself. Some well pump outages have simple $175 fixes, while others require pulling the pump.
Understanding the System
How a Private Well System Works
A residential well system relies on 4 core components: the submersible pump, the pressure tank, the pressure switch, and the check valve.
The Submersible Pump
Most Northern Colorado wells use a submersible well pump — a sealed electric motor and multi-stage pump submerged 100 to 400 feet underground. When system pressure drops below the 30 or 40 PSI cut-in point, the pump pushes aquifer water up into the pressure tank.
Submersible pumps last 10 to 25 years depending on water quality, daily volume, and whether the well runs dry. When they fail, pulling and replacing a submersible pump requires a motorized hoist truck to protect the drop pipe, cable, and well casing.
The Pressure Tank
The well pressure tank in your basement or utility room stores a pressurized reserve of water. This reserve prevents the pump from starting every time someone opens a tap for 10 seconds, while keeping household pressure steady.
An internal rubber bladder separates the compressed air charge from the water. When the bladder ruptures, the tank becomes waterlogged and forces the pump to short-cycle rapidly on every draw. Replacing a waterlogged tank is one of our most frequent private well pump service calls.
The Pressure Switch
The well pressure switch is a fist-sized electrical relay mounted near the base of the pressure tank. It turns the pump on at cut-in pressure (30 or 40 PSI) and shuts it off at cut-out pressure (50 or 60 PSI).
Pressure switches fail when spring contacts pit, burn, or clog with iron sediment. Replacing a burned $175–$350 pressure switch resolves many "no water" service calls on the spot.
The Drop Pipe and Check Valve
The vertical drop pipe carries water from the submerged pump up to the pitless adapter and surface plumbing. A brass check valve installed above the pump stops water from draining back down the well when the motor shuts off.
A failed check valve lets pressure bleed back down the well after every cycle. That backflow forces the pump to rebuild pressure from 0 PSI on every startup, overheating the motor and causing sputtering taps.
Step-by-Step
What to Check Before Calling a Plumber
Follow these 5 diagnostic checks in order to rule out simple electrical or tank issues before scheduling a service truck.
Check the Breaker Panel
Locate the 240-volt double-pole breaker labeled for your well pump. If it is tripped, flip it fully off and back on once. If the breaker trips again immediately, stop and call a technician; a shorted motor or grounded wire is drawing excessive amperage.
Check the Pressure Switch
Inspect the small gray pressure switch box near the pressure tank base. If your switch has a low-pressure cut-off lever on the side, lift it gently until the pump engages. If the contacts spark heavily or fail to close, the switch needs replacement.
Test the Pressure Tank
With the pump breaker off, tap the side of the pressure tank from bottom to top. A healthy tank sounds solid at the bottom (water) and hollow at the top (air). If it sounds solid and heavy all the way to the top, the internal rubber bladder has ruptured.
Check for Leaks in Accessible Areas
Inspect the floor around the pressure tank, tee manifold, and sediment filter housing for active water leaks. A ruptured supply line or cracked filter housing drops system pressure faster than the well pump can refill the tank.
Check Other Water Sources on the Property
Open a basement utility sink or an outdoor frost-free hydrant that bypasses your water softener. If water flows strongly at the bypass tap but stops inside the house, your whole-house sediment filter or water softener is clogged.
Reading the Signs
What Each Symptom Usually Means
Six specific pressure and pump cycling patterns reveal which well component is failing.
No Water From Well — Nothing When You Turn on the Tap
Total water loss points to a tripped 240V breaker, burned pressure switch contacts, a failed control box capacitor, or a dead submersible motor. Check the breaker panel first. If the breaker holds and the gauge reads 0 PSI, schedule our emergency well pump diagnosis in Fort Collins.
Low Pressure — Water Comes Out But Weakly
Weak flow across all fixtures stems from worn pump impellers, a clogged sediment filter, or iron scale inside the pressure switch tube. If household pressure has dropped steadily over 6 to 12 months, the submersible pump is wearing out. You can also upgrade to a constant pressure VFD system for steady 60 PSI flow.
Short Cycling — Pump Turns On and Off Every Few Seconds
Rapid clicking on and off every 3 to 10 seconds indicates a ruptured bladder inside a waterlogged pressure tank. Without an air cushion, opening any tap drops pressure from 60 PSI to 40 PSI instantly. Schedule a pressure tank replacement immediately before the rapid starting burns out your submersible pump motor.
Pump Runs Constantly — Never Turns Off
Nonstop pumping without reaching 50–60 PSI cut-out pressure indicates a split drop pipe, worn impellers, or a low aquifer level. Turn off the pump breaker until a technician inspects it, or the motor will overheat and seize.
Sputtering Water — Air in the Lines
Faucets that spit bursts of air and water indicate that air is entering the suction or drop line. Common causes include a failing check valve, a cracked drop pipe above the water table, or aquifer drawdown below the pump intake.
Symptoms of a Bad Check Valve on a Well
A failing check valve lets pressurized water drain backward down the well casing whenever the pump stops. Telltale signs include a pressure gauge that drops steadily when no taps are open, the pump kicking on overnight, and air sputtering at morning startup. Replacing a down-hole check valve requires pulling the pump from the well casing.
Know the Limits
What's Safe to DIY — and What Isn't
Homeowners can safely perform basic surface checks, but down-hole pump pulling and 240-volt electrical diagnostics require licensed equipment.
Generally Reasonable to DIY
- Resetting a tripped breaker (once)
- Resetting a pressure switch reset button (once)
- Checking for visible leaks in the utility area
- Tapping the pressure tank to assess waterlogging
- Checking the air charge on a pressure tank (requires a tire gauge, done with pump off)
- Replacing a clogged sediment filter cartridge
Call a Professional For These
- Pulling or replacing a submersible pump using a hoist rig
- Any work inside the wellhead or pitless adapter
- Diagnosing a pump that runs without building pressure
- Replacing a pressurized well bladder tank
- Any situation where the 240V breaker trips repeatedly
- Suspected low well yield or bacterial contamination
Our technicians specialize in well pump repair in Larimer County and diagnose 95% of outages on the first visit. We test the surface components first so we never pull a submersible pump unnecessarily.
What to Expect
What Happens on a Well Pump Service Call?
A professional well pump diagnostic visit takes 45 to 60 minutes and follows 4 testing steps to pinpoint the exact failure:
Initial Assessment
We measure tank pre-charge pressure (typically 28 or 38 PSI), inspect the pressure switch contacts, and check the control box capacitor.
Electrical Testing
We measure 240V line voltage, motor amp draw with a clamp meter, and winding resistance (ohms) down the well cable to verify motor health.
Flow Testing
We measure gallons-per-minute (GPM) output against the pump's horsepower rating. Normal amperage paired with weak flow points to worn pump impellers or a split drop pipe.
Honest Options
We provide a written flat-rate quote before starting any repair. Whether you need a $250 pressure switch or a full submersible pump pull, you know the exact cost upfront.
What to Budget
What Do Well Pump Repairs and Replacements Typically Cost?
Well pump repairs in Northern Colorado range from $175 for a pressure switch to $4,500+ for a deep submersible pump replacement. Review our full pricing table on the main well pumps service page or compare the 4 common repair tiers below:
Pressure Tank Replacement
Replacing a waterlogged bladder tank costs $650 to $1,400 including parts and labor. A new tank stops rapid short-cycling and protects the submersible motor.
Pressure Switch Replacement
Swapping a burned or clogged 30/50 or 40/60 PSI pressure switch costs $175 to $350. This quick repair resolves many sudden no-water outages.
Submersible Pump Replacement
Pulling and replacing a submersible well pump costs $1,800 to $4,500+. Total cost depends on well depth (100 to 400+ feet) and pump horsepower.
Check Valve or Drop Pipe Repair
Replacing a down-hole check valve or corroded drop pipe requires pulling the pump assembly. Labor costs mirror a pump pull, though you save the cost of a new motor if the pump is under 8 years old.
Catching a failed $800 pressure tank early prevents a $3,500 burned-out submersible pump motor. Fixing short-cycling within 48 hours saves thousands of dollars in premature well repairs.
Staying Ahead of It
How to Avoid Well Pump Failures
Five routine maintenance habits extend submersible well pump lifespan by 5 to 10 years:
- Fix short cycling immediately: A waterlogged pressure tank forces hundreds of daily motor starts that burn out pump windings.
- Never run the well dry: Submersible pumps rely on surrounding water for cooling; dry-running overheats the motor in 15 minutes.
- Test well water annually: Lab testing tracks iron, hardness, sediment, and coliform bacteria that corrode impellers and switches.
- Protect the surface wellhead: Keep the sanitary well cap sealed tight and grade soil away to prevent surface runoff intrusion.
- Save your well log records: Knowing your well depth, static water level, and pump horsepower speeds up future service visits.
We repair private wells across Fort Collins, Loveland, Wellington, Berthoud, Windsor, Laporte, and Red Feather Lakes. Call us anytime to schedule a preventative pressure tank check.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Well Pump Problems
Yes, reset the breaker once to rule out a brief power surge. If the 240V breaker trips a second time, leave it off and call a professional immediately. Repeatedly resetting a shorted pump motor can melt wiring or lock the pump inside the casing.
Submersible well pumps in Northern Colorado last 10 to 25 years, averaging 15 years under normal household use. High iron, abrasive sand, and rapid short-cycling from a bad pressure tank shorten pump life to 7–10 years.
Short cycling means the well pump turns on and off every 3 to 15 seconds instead of running for a normal 60-second fill cycle. It is caused by a ruptured bladder in the pressure tank and rapidly burns out the submersible pump motor.
No, we strongly advise against DIY submersible pump replacement because 200 feet of water-filled pipe and pump weighs over 300 pounds. Dropping the pipe string or kinking the 240V cable can permanently ruin the entire well shaft.
A running pump with 0 PSI pressure means a broken drop pipe, stripped pump impellers, or a well that has run dry. Shut off the pump breaker immediately so the motor does not overheat, and call a well technician.
Residential wells along the Front Range in Wellington, Berthoud, and Windsor range from 80 to 250 feet deep. Mountain wells in Red Feather Lakes and Livermore often reach 300 to 600 feet through fractured granite.
Check your electrical breaker panel first and reset the well breaker once if tripped. If power is on but you have 0 PSI, shut off the breaker and call our 24/7 dispatch at (970) 499-0516.
Yes, hard water minerals, iron bacteria, and sand grit shorten well pump life by 20% to 40%. Sand erodes brass and thermoplastic impellers, while calcium scale clogs pressure switch sensing tubes and check valves.
Well Pump Problem?
Talk to a Well Pump Specialist in Northern Colorado
We diagnose well pump problems on the first visit and give you an upfront quote. For well pump repair in Larimer County, visit our service page or call us directly.